Discovering Albanian I Textbook

Introduction

3 THE ALBANIAN ALPHABET A B C Ç D Dh E Ë F G Gj H a b c ç d dh e ë f g gj h I J K L Ll M N Nj O P Q R i j k l ll m n nj o p q r Rr S Sh T Th U V X Xh Y Z Zh rr s sh t th u v x xh y z zh THE PRONUNCIATION OF ALBANIAN LETTERS Vowels Letter Pronunciation Approximate English Equivalent a [a] father e [e] pest ë [ə] around; not pronounced at the end of a word i [i] elite o [o] more u [u] roof y [ü] vacuum, French tu Consonants Letter Read As Pronunciation English Equivalent b bë [b] boy c cë [ts] pants ç çë [ʧ] child d dë [d] day dh dhë [δ] they f fë [f] fine g gë [g] go gj gjë [ʤ’] gene1 h hë [h] hot j jë [y] yacht k kë [k] scooter l lë [l] light ll llë [ɫ] bull m më [m] many INTRODUCTION 1. Pronounce like the g in gene, but with the tongue retracted toward the palate. 4 Discovering Albanian 1 n në [n] nothing nj një [ɲ] canyon p pë [p] spot q që [ʧ’] chin2 r rë [ɾ, r] city (when pronounced as a flap; Spanish pero) rr rrë [ɹ] Spanish perro s së [s] sun sh shë [ʃ] show t të [t] stop th thë [ʘ] thought v vë [v] vow x xë [ʣ] ads xh xhë [ʤ] jar z zë [z] zone zh zhë [ʒ] vision THE ALPHABET AND SOME COMMON ALBANIAN NAMES Females Males A Albana Arbër B Bora Bledi C Cuca Cemtar Ç Çiljeta Çlirim D Donika Dardan Dh Dhurata Dhurim E Era Ermal Ë Ëngjëllushe Ëngjëll F Fatbardha Fisnik G Genta Gëzim Gj Gjenovefa3 Gjergj H Hotiana Hekuran I Ilira Indrit J Jona Jetmir K Klesta Kreshnik L Linda Lekë Ll Llamburi Llesh M Mimoza Mentor N Nevila Neritan Nj Njomza Njomzak O Olta Oltion P Pranvera Plarent Q Qetim Qershina R Rozafa Redon 2. Pronounce like the ch in chin, but with the tongue retracted toward the palate. 3. Originally not an Albanian name. 5 Introduction Rr Rrezarta Rron S Sidita Saimir Sh Shpresa Shkëlzen T Teuta Taulant Th Thëllëza Thanor U Ulpiana Urim V Vesa Vullnet X Xixa Xixëllim Xh Xhina4 Xhevahir5 Y Yllka Ylli Z Zana Zamir Zh Zhuljeta Zhani6 4. Originally not an Albanian name. 5. Originally not an Albanian name. 6. Originally not an Albanian name. ...